Introduction to DVB-S

In this chapter will be explained how to configure your DVB-S (Satellite) capture devices. First the basics are explained followed by a step-by-step example. We will be using the Technotrend Budget S-1500, but this guide should work for any DVB-S card.

The Technotrend Budget S-1500 is a DVB-S capturecard with the possibility of adding a optional CI module. A CI-module gives you the possibility to add a Cam module so you can view encrypted channels (pay-tv). This is optional for most DVB cards and does not change any of the following configuration steps.

The manual is a work in progress, it will be completed in the following weeks.

Setting up you capture device

In most distributions this (and other) capture cards work "out-of-the-box", adjustments are not necessary. If your devices is not support by default then find out how to get drivers for it.

To check if your capture device is working you see the following during boot or by using the dmesg command from the terminal, the output should see:

MythTV configuration

DVB Card Number: 0 (if this is your first DVB card. The number corresponds with what at the end of the dmesg output is displayed: "registering frontend 0".)

By filling out the card, you'll see that "Frontend ID" and "Subtype" automatically filled.

The timeouts can remain on their default values.

Now screen should now look somewhat like the screen below (this may vary depending your version and look).

DiSEqC

If you use a DVB-S capture device, you might want to setup the right settings for DiSEqC. This is the protocol which enables your system to tell your dish to which satellite it has to look.

Click on DiSEqC in the configuration of the capture card.

If nothing had yet been configured, you will see "(Unconnected)" on top of the screen. Select this to make adjustments.

Unfortunately, in the current version of MythTV there is still no way to alter a DiSEqC connection once it is established. If you still would like to do, you must remove the capture card and add back... in mythTV not the hardware stupid ;).

If you click "(Unconnected)", you'll get a small list of choices:

Choose the device with which this capture device is linked.

DiSEqC Switch

Choose Switch, if you capturecard with a DiSEqC switch connected so you can select multiple LNB's.

<Todo: add example screen here>

Description: A recognizable description for this switch.

Repeat count: The number of times a command is repeated (for unreliable switches).